I have found that it is wise to use a smaller stitch size with flannel especially with rag quilts.

How interesting. I have not experienced this and have quilted several flannel backs. The quilt I did front and back had tons and tons of ruler work. It was mostly SID so I used my straight ruler a lot.

It may not be a problem, especially if the quilting lines are not far apart. I was in a Harriet Hargrave class where she showed us a flannel quilt she had made to prove that even flannel did not need to be prewashed for a quilt. Her point was that, once it is quilted, it is the batting that controls shrinkage. She measured her quilt before and after washing, and the shrinkage was even and the amount expected from the batting (which in her case was, I think, Hobbs 80/20). The quilt was nice and soft and not distorted at all.

My very first quilt about 10 years ago, was flannel trip around the world with 3" finished squares. what was the teacher thinking? Anyway, it wasn't prewashed and it wasn't starched and I used a 1/4" seam. I used warm and natural batting and a flannel backing. Stitched in the ditch. It has held up great. I guess it might have shrunk when I washed it, but, my granddaughter loves it. She is 9 and a half and still has it on her bed between her big girl blankets. It has been washed a gazillion times (well maybe not that much) and it is still in good shape. Now when I use flannel I wash it a few times and put it in the dryer. I still use 1/4" seams. I am not a starcher even though I have three different kinds.

So glad for this thread. I've been scared to use flannel up until now because I didn't know how to work with it. But now
I think I'll give it a try! Thanks for this tip!

Be sure to check and clean out the bobbin area of your machine *frequently* when piecing flannel; it creates a lot of lint!

I live in the humid south where winters are mild and summers are just plain hot! I like to to make what I guess they used to call "summer quilts" with no batting and use flannel for the backing. It makes for a comfy cozy quilt that really breathes. If I use quality flannel I don't prewash (unless it's a deep color that might bleed) it will shrink and still give that puckered old fashioned look I love so much.

And ditto on the checking for lint. Even prewashed flannel makes a TON of lint. I've gotten in the habit of lifting out the bobbin case and giving the area a quick brush EVERY time I change the bobbin, no matter what I'm sewing. Between projects, I take off the throat plate as well the upper cover (needle area) and clean the lint out of everything I can reach with a lint brush.

That is my main TIP also..................clean the machine before you start......and about every half bobbin, or anytime you take a break from sewing....clean, clean,clean especially if flannel is not prewashed and dried in dryer.....packed up lint and fuzz is terrible for your machine. killer for sure !

I press the seams open on flannel. Less bulk!.

I just love all the information I get from all of you seasoned quilters. I appreciate it so much. One question, can you buy flannel for backing in the 108" size? Or do you have to piece all the time?